Football gaming exhibition designed to “blur computer games and reality”

A new exhibition at Manchester’s National Football Museum, Pitch to Pixel: The World of Football Gaming has been designed to “blur the line between computer games and reality”.

While this is a potentially worrying prospect for anyone who lost several years of their life to the likes of Championship Manager, Sensible Soccer or the Fifa dynasty, the exhibition sets out to be fully immersive while visually paying homage to around 40 years of football gaming.

Instruct Studio has led the design, which incorporates, artworks, gaming paraphernalia, gaming experiences and playable arcade games.

Pixel to Polygon concept

Instruct says its “pixel to polygon” concept saw bold colours used across the identity and exhibition graphics, which have been inspired by the design language of “everything from old retro machines to the latest computer hardware”.

The consultancy worked alongside Liverpool-based Archiform on 3D design, which created polygon pods to house playable games and artifacts.

Instruct has led the design of the branding, marketing materials and animated digital outdoor advertising.

Instruct creative director John Owens says: “We have created a completely unique experience, bringing computer games to life in a 3D space while retaining the emotional attachment people have for football games. We already have big plans for inter-agency tournaments after all the practice we have had.”

What can visitors expect?

Visitors will be able to see motion capture suits worn by Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero for EA Sports FIFA 16.

An interactive artwork, Hit-it by Leo Schatzl, will allow visitors to put themselves “inside the game” according to Instruct, which says a “header selfie” will be triggered as a ball is headed, creating a short film of facial expressions taken at a “crucial, unguarded moment”.

A photobooth will allow visitors to put themselves on the front cover of the game Football Manager.

Classic games have been mapped out in a timeline, which takes in Pele’s Soccer (Atari), Nintendo World Cup (NES), Sensible Soccer (Amiga) and Go! Go! Beckham! (Nintendo Gameboy).

Pitch to Pixel: The World of Football Gaming is on until July 2016 at the National Football Museum,Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Todd St, Manchester M4 3BG.

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